Conveyer track switch



1950 F. J. HENDERSON CONVEYER TRACK SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1946 I l H I I Ih INVENTOR. fiflwdflzwmsm ATTORNEX Oct. 24, 1950 F. J. HENDERSON 2,526,819

CONVEYER TRACK sw'I'TcH Filed March 2, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 8 N E 5 a I: 1 I\ o Q a K h l] 3 2 H I [K 1| '1' I l U a INVEN TOR.

Patented Oct. 24, 1950 GONVEYER TRACK SWITCH Frank'J. vHenderson, Detroit; Mich., assignor to JerviszB-lWebb Company; Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 2, 1946, Serial No. 651,519 :;Claims.' (Cl. 104-1027 This-invention relates totro'll'eyconveyor lines and has for its principal object to provide-an improved manually operableconveyor track switch.

Track switches of the general type disclosed herein are used extensively inconveyor'systems having, a main conveyor "line and various branch lines. The conveyor-track is normally ofthe I beam or double channel type. Load supporting brackets provided with trolley wheelsrun along such track and switches are provided Where the branch lines meet the main lines. The switches are generally provided with two or more short sections of conveyor track mountedfon a movable frameworkand each is formed to connect the entrance track. with. a particular exittrack where the movable framework is; in. a corresponding position.

One of the principalobjects. of thelpresent in-. vention is to, provide a mechanism, for normally locking the. movable switch tracks inany one of the switch positions with means manually operable from a convenient floor level torelease the locking mechanism for movement of. the switch tracks to another position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for simultaneously releasing the locking mechanism and imparting movement tothe switch tracks in either direction with a single hand movement.

A further object of theinventionis to. provide automatic means for stoppingand locking. the switch tracks in anew position after'they have been released and started in motion.

Still another object of the-invention is to provide a track member in the. fixed frame .formed from a singlepiece of sheet metal thatwillsupport, andguide, wheels mounted on the, movable frame, as well asto serve as a supporting. surface for theentrance and exit. tracks anda supporting surface for thelockingmeans.

,These and other objects of. the invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description of. a. particular embodiment of them-.- vention and fromv an examination of the drawings forming a part hereof and wherein,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the track switch showing entrance and, exit tracks mounted ona fixed frame and switchtracks mounted-.onza movable frame with. locking; means corresponding to each position.

Fig. 2. is a fragmentary end, elevationtof the switch taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 with the: conveyor tracks omitted.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken alongtheline 3e-3 0f:.Eig.'1.

Fig, 4- is an enlarged view of the lockingmecm anism shown in Fig. v1.

Fig. 5 is a. sectional view of the locking mechanism taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig, 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 showing the pulley housing mounted to the movable frame at one end.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along the line '|-'I of Fig. 6 showing the pulley housing mounted. at the other end of the movable frame with the. handle extendingd'own.

Fig. 8 is anend elevation of, the conveyor track which is. comprised of two opposed. C channel members.

Referring to Fig. 1, a fixed frame is formed by twosend members I!) and two side members Ila and Ill). Thev conveyor track l2 comprising two opposed channel members is mounted on the low.- er surface ofthe. side member Ila. Conveyor, tracks l3, l4 and [5 are mounted on the lower surface of the otherside member I lb. The track l2 .may be referred to as anentrance trackand tracks l3, and I5 as exit tracks although travel can. be in either direction.

As. illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a movable framework, comprising two end members [6, two side members Ha and Ill), and four wheels I8 mounted on the movable frame by bracket members. l9, carries three switch tracks 26, 2| and 22. As shown in Figure 1 switch track 2| is in line with entrance track l2 and exit track 14. By

moving the movable frame to the right, switch track 20 would connect entrance track l2 with exit track" l3 or. by moving it to the left, switch track 22 would connect entrance track l2with exit-track l5. Blocks 23, 26 and 25 are mounted onthe. fixed frame member I lb. Bellcrank latching members for engaging these blocks are also mounted on the movable frame as shown in Figures;1.and 3. Each. of the bellcranklmembers has a longitudinally extending le 26a and 2612 respectively and each has a transversely extending leg 21a and 21b swivelly mounted to the movable frame by means. of a bolt 29 passing through a bracket member 30 and the bellcrank journal 3i.

Each of. the ends of the bellcrank members 21a and 2117 has a tongue 32a and 32b for engaging the-blocks 23, 24 or 25 when the movable frame is in each respective-switch position. A spring 33 is mountedunder tension between the bellcrank legs 26a and 26b normally urging the bellcrank legs- 21a and 21b. into locking position. Pulley lines 34a and 342) are also attached to the upper ends of. the bellcrank legs- 26a' and 26b, respectively on the opposite sides of the spring 33. Pulley lines34a runs over apulley 36, to a handle.

mitted through the bellcrank journal 3| to the bolt 29, the bracket 30 and the movable frame member 11, thereby imparting motion to the movable frame in a direction necessary to move track switch into alignment with entrance track I2 and exit track [3. As soon as such motion is started and suflicient momentum given the movable frame to carry it into the new switch position, the handle may be released. The spring 33 again urges bellcrank leg 26a to the left and bellcrank leg 27a downwards into locking position. As the switch moves to the right, the tapered edge 351) will come into contact with the edge of the block and the cam action therebetween will cause the bellcrank leg 27!) to raise up in order to pass over the block 25. When the tongue 32b of the leg 27b passes over the far edge of block 25, the spring 33 will cause it v to drop down into locking position. If it were next desired to move switch track 22 into alignment with entrance track 12 and exit track l5, handle 40 would be pulled creating a tension in pulley line 34b acting against spring 33 causing bellcrank leg 26b to move to the left and bellcrank leg 21b to move up out of locking engagement. At the same time, movement to the left would be imparted to the movable frame. In order for the movable frame to pass the central switch position, tension on the pulley line 34b is continuously applied until the tongue 32b of bellcrank leg 21b has passed the engaging edge of block 24 after which time tension may be released and the switch will continue in motion until the tongue 3211 comes into locking engagement with block 23.

Thus, it is seen that with a single hand motion from a. convenient floor level, simultaneous release of the latching mechanism, and movement of the switch to any new desired position may be accomplished.

While the above description and drawings relate to a particular embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily understood that numerous changes in the detailed construction could be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention as described in the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. In combination with a trolley conveyor having a multiple track switch comprising a fixed frame mounting a plurality of stationary tracks and a movable frame mounting plurality of switch tracks for selectively connecting alternate pairs of said tracks, and means for positively locating said movable frame in any of the positions required for connecting said tracks, said means comprising a block mounted on said fixed frame for each switch position, a latch mechanism mounted on the movable frame for alternately engaging each of said locating blocks, means for normally urging said latch mechanism into locking engagement, and selective means for simultaneously releasing saidlatch mechanism and imparting motion to said movable frame in either direction manually operable at a convenient floor level by a single hand movement, said latch mechanism comprising a pair of bellcrank members pivotally mounted on said movable frame in spaced and opposed relationship so that a leg of each bellcrank member may overlie a single locating block when the movable frame is in a given switch position, the end of each of said legs being provided with a projecting surface for engaging said block thereby retaining said movable frame against movement in either direction while said mechanism is in lock ing engagement, said projecting surface being adapted to override said block upon release actuation of said latch mechanism.

2. In combination with a trolley conveyor having a multiple track switch comprising a fixed frame mounting a plurality of stationary tracks and 'a movable frame mounting a plurality of switch tracks for selectively connecting alternate pairs of said tracks, and means for positively locating said movable frame in any of the positions required for connecting said tracks, said means comprising a block mounted on saidfixed frame for each switch position, a latch mechanism mounted on the movable frame for alternately engaging each of said locating blocks, means for normally urging said latch mechanism into locking engagement, and selective means for simultaneously releasing said latch mechanism and imparting motion to said movable frame in either direction manually operable at a convenient floor level by a single hand movement, said latch mechanism comprising a pair of bellcrank members pivotally mounted on said movable frame in spaced and opposed relationship so that a leg of each bellcrank member may overlie a single locating block when the movable frame is in a given switch position, the end of each of said legs being provided with a projecting surface for engaging said block thereby retaining said movable frame against movement in either direction while said mechanism is in looking engagement, and the end of each of said legs being also provided with a tapered surface which when brought into contact with a locating block tends to raise the leg for passage over the block.

3. In combination with a trolley conveyor having a multiple track switch comprising a fixed frame mounting a plurality of stationary tracks and a movable frame mounting a, plurality of switch tracks for selectively connecting alternate pairs of said tracks, and means for positively locating said movable frame in any of the positions required for connecting said tracks, said means comprising a block mounted on said fixed frame for each switch position, a latch mechanism mounted on the movable frame for alternately engaging each of said locating blocks, means for normally urging said latch mechanism into locking engagement, and selective means for simultaneously releasing said latch mechanism and imparting motion to said mova-ble frame in either direction manually operable at a convenient floor level by a single hand movement, said latch mechanism comprising a pair of bellcrank members pivotally mounted on said movable frame in spaced and opposed relationship so that one leg of each bellcrank member may overlie a single locating block when the movable frame is'in a given switch position, the end of each of said legs being provided with a projecting surface for engaging said block thereby retaining said movable frame against movement in either direction=while said mechanism is in locking engagement, said means" normally urging said latch mechanism into loc'kingf'en required for connecting said tracks, said means comprising a block mounted on said fixed frame for each switch position, a latch mechanism mounted on the movable frame for alternately engaging each of said locating blocks, means for normally urging said latch mechanism into looking engagement, and selective means for simultaneously releasing said latch mechanism and im-.

parting motion tosaid movable frame in either direction manually operable at a convenient floor level by a single hand movement, said latch mechanism comprising a pair of bellcrank members pivotally mounted on said movable frame in spaced and opposed relationship so that one leg of each bellcrank member may overlie a single locating block when the movable frame is in a given switch position, the end of each of said legs being provided with a projecting surface for engaging said block thereby retaining said movable frame against movement in either direction while said mechanism is in locking engagement, the end of each of said legs also being provided with a tapered surface adapted to effect an overriding of said block upon movement toward a locking position, said means normally urging said latch mechanism into locking engagement comprising a springmounted under tension between the other legs of said bellcrank members, said means for releasing said latch mechanism and imparting motion to said movable frame comprising a flexible pulling member attached to each of the last mentioned legs and passing over guide pulleys in a manner whereby tension applied to either of said pulling members will act against said spring actuating the bellcrank member to which it is attached in a direction causing the engaging surface of said member to be raised to a position for overriding said block while simultaneously imparting motion to said movable frame in either direction.

5. In combination with a trolley conveyor having a multiple track switch comprising a fixed frame mounting a plurality of stationary tracks and a movable frame mounting a plurality of switch tracks for selectively connecting alternate pairs of said tracks, and means for positively locating said movable frame in any of the positions required for connecting said tracks, said means comprising a block mounted on said fixed frame for each switch position, a latch mechanism mounted on the movable frame for alternately engaging each of said locating blocks, means for normally urging said latch mechanism into locking engagement, and selective means for simultaneously releasing said latch mechanism and imparting motion to said movable frame in either direction manually operable at a convenient floor level by a single hand movement, said latch mechanism comprising a pair of bellcrank members pivotally mounted on said movable frame in spaced and opposed relationship so that one leg of each bellcrank member may overlie a single locating block when-the movable frame is in a given switch position, the end of each of said legs being provided with a projecting surface for engaging said block thereby retaining said movable frame against movement in either direction while said mechanism is in looking engagement, and the end of said legs being also provided with a tapered surface which when brought into contact with a locating block tends to raise the leg for passage over the block, said means normally urging said latch mechanism into locking engagement comprising a spring mounted under tension between the other legs of said bellcrank members, said means for releasing said latch mechanism and imparting motion to said movable frame comprising flexible pulling members attached to each of the last mentioned legs and passing over guide pulleys in a manner whereby tension applied to either of said pulling members will act against said spring actuating the bell-crank member to which it is attached in a direction causing the engaging surface of said member to be raised out of locking position while simultaneously imparting motion to said movable frame in either direction.

FRANK J. HENDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,632,557 Moon June 14, 1927 1,841,640 Schmidt et al. Jan. 19 1932 2,138,962 Forker Dec. 6, 1938 

